Elections Archives

European Union countries that undermine the bloc's democratic principles could lose EU funds, under a draft law backed by the European Parliament on Thursday (17 January).

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday (16 January) survived a confidence vote after a row over a landmark name deal with Macedonia sunk his four-year coalition.

Germany's domestic intelligence will step up monitoring for political extremism of the far-right AfD party, sources said Tuesday (15 January), a blow to the party in a busy election year.

The Russian foreign ministry published on Tuesday (14 January) a statement voicing concern about “instability” in Greece following the ratification of the recent change of the constitution in Macedonia. Greece retorted with a warning to Russia not to interfere in its internal affairs.

Paweł Adamowicz, the liberal mayor of the Polish city of Gdańsk, died on Monday (14 January) of his wounds, a day after being stabbed by a man who rushed the stage during a charity event. EU officials said they were devastated and expressed utter shock.

Four months ahead of the European elections, liberal parties are torn between those ready to engage with the far-right and those opposed to any kind of alliance. Spain and Sweden offer the latest examples.

Social Democrat leader Stefan Löfven took a big step toward a second term as Sweden’s prime minister on Friday (11 January) after agreeing a deal with two opposition parties that will move policy sharply to the right with tax cuts and business-friendly reforms.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Thursday (10 January) said he hoped the next European Parliament will be dominated by anti-immigration forces. He also criticised France and Germany in blunt terms, saying he "must fight" French President Emmanuel Macron.

Romania should be granted membership of the Schengen passport-free travel zone during its EU presidency stint, according to European Parliament President Antonio Tajani. But persistent concerns about the rule of law mean it is far from a done deal.

As Romania formally launched its six-month-long presidency of the EU, its foreign affairs chief insisted that the country was prepared to helm the Council ship for the very first time.

From 15 January to 15 March France will hold what President Emmanuel Macron has termed the "great national debate", a public consultation to discuss the "essential questions" facing the nation after nearly two months of violent so-called yellow vest protests.

The policies of Italy's anti-immigrant and anti-establishment government which came to power last June have torpedoed the country's global democracy ranking, a think tank said Wednesday (9 January).

Latvia’s president nominated a current MEP as prime minister on Monday (7 January), after two other picks failed to form a government after elections held in October.

Belgian King Philippe accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Charles Michel on Friday (21 December) and requested his government stay on in a caretaker capacity for the coming months after his coalition split following an argument over migration.

Catalan pro-independence groups plan to protest and block roads in Barcelona on Friday (21 December) as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez holds a cabinet meeting in the city under tight security.

Romania’s Social Democrat-led government survived a no confidence vote on Thursday (20 December) as expected, days before taking over the European Union’s rotating presidency, but still faces concerns at home and abroad over its attempts to weaken a crackdown on corruption.

Bulgarian minister Temenuzhka Petkova has said her country preferred paying a multi-million euro fine rather than follow a Commission injunction. Such a reform, in her words, would have threatened the country's national security. EURACTIV checked the facts.

Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel offered to resign on Tuesday (18 December) after opponents tabled a no confidence vote in a political crisis triggered by differences over immigration.

Week-long protests in Budapest have forged fragmented opposition parties into a rare coalition against Viktor Orbán, drawing young Hungarians into the streets to demonstrate against what they see as his increasingly authoritarian rule.

Romania's centre-right President Klaus Iohannis said Tuesday (18 December)  that he will invite himself to meetings of the left-wing cabinet in order to prevent it passing proposed criminal pardons that could benefit prominent politicians. 

Greek lawmakers approved on Tuesday (18 December) the country's first post-bailout budget which projects a high primary surplus next year and sees a pick-up in economic growth.

Italy has done a deal with the European Commission over its contested 2019 budget, a spokeswoman at the Economy Ministry said on Tuesday (18 December), signaling an end to weeks of wrangling that had shaken financial markets.

Poland on Monday (17 December) bowed to a ruling by the EU's top court ordering it to suspend a law that had lowered the retirement age of its Supreme Court judges amid concerns about judicial independence. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) had …

Security guards ejected two independent lawmakers from Hungary's state television building on Monday (17 December) after they tried to read out a petition, a day after police used tear gas against pro-democracy protesters in Budapest.